Researcher

Established in 1975, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments is one of the largest suppliers of analytical instrumentation, physical testing, and environmental monitoring systems in the world.  Ground-breaking scientific research, manufacturing ideas and results continue to propel Shimazu’s outstanding reputation and “Excellence in Science.”  People dedicated to our mission have the largest impact on Shimadzu’s continued growth and success. Would YOU like to join a diverse team of professionals working together with researchers, scientists and manufacturers to help better lives worldwide?

Researcher

WHAT CAN SHIMADZU OFFER YOU?

• Our Culture:  A Certified Great Place to Work firmly committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Competitive Compensation: Day 1 Benefits and competitive salary.
• Retirement Benefits: Matching 401K and a Profit-Sharing Program.
• Health Benefits: Flexible Spending/Health Savings Accounts.
• Performance Bonuses: Variable Pay Plan for commission and incentive roles.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous Paid Time Off and Hybrid work options for qualifying roles.
• Education: Tuition Assistance Program for both graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Insurance Perks: Pet Insurance, optional Identity theft, legal pre-paid, critical care benefits, and robust company-paid life and disability programs, inclusive of paternity and maternity leave.
• Well-being: Comprehensive Corporate Wellness Program.
• Work Flexibility: Business casual Dress Attire & casual (jeans) Friday! 
• Professional Growth: Clear pathways for Career, Leadership, and Personal Development.
• Employee Engagement: Active Inclusion, Diversity, and Culture Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION:

• For Service, Technical Support, Marketing & Sales Roles: Additional compensation is available through either an Incentive and/or Commission Plan. 
• For Employees who reside in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California, additional compensation is offered through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).

POSITION SUMMARY:

The R&D Center at Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) is dedicated to identifying advanced customer needs in North America and swiftly developing technologies and global products that cater to these needs. The Researcher position in the Product Strategy Group is a vital component of this mission, tasked with understanding and accurately communicating customer needs. The insights and ideas contributed by the Researcher are instrumental in shaping Shimadzu’s product R&D strategy. The primary target market segment for this role is pharmaceutical industry.

The job functions of this position are broad and demanding, requiring a high level of knowledge and a specific skill set to ensure the incumbent’s success.  The ideal candidate is expected to possess extensive technical knowledge of drug development workflows in the pharmaceutical industry, gained through direct work experience in the field. Utilizing this knowledge and their network, alongside a comprehensive market review, user needs analysis and competitive analysis, the incumbent will conduct user interviews for hypothesis validation, user persona creation and strategy-planning of Shimadzu’s future products.

This document attempts to communicate the traditional, physical and environment demands associated with this position. The company will consider reasonable accommodation including changing the way the job is traditionally performed whenever necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal employment opportunity.

SCOPE:

The incumbent's role will primarily focus on applying their research expertise and analytical skills to the pharmaceutical market. Their understanding of this market and the insights derived will play a crucial role in shaping R&D projects and guiding the evolution of Shimadzu’s product offerings. Establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders will be essential for conducting relevant user research and gaining key information. The incumbent's contributions will significantly influence the product R&D strategy and overall organizational growth.

JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

1. [Pharmaceutical Market Research] Understand the latest trends in the pharmaceutical market, including biomedical technology news, key academic publications, and changes in regulatory policies. Attend conferences, discussion groups and workshops. Share insights with the team, curate relevant information and create monthly reports. (weekly)
2. [Market and Technology Analysis] Analyze customer needs, market opportunities, competitive situation, and potential third-party technologies related to themes specified by the manager. Write reports to summarize the finding, commenting on Shimadzu’s position and strategic options.(daily)
3. [User Research] Conduct user interviews and surveys to deep dive into the most up-to-date user experiences for workflows specified by the manager, such as purification of an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Create customer personas reflecting user needs and identify potential future products, technologies or software features that could cater to these needs. (daily(
4. [Supportive Role in the R&D Team] Support R&D projects by: (1) providing market information needed for proposing R&D projects; (2) participating in the high-level project proposal discussions; and (3) facilitating the communication between the R&D team and the collaborator. (weekly)
5. [Collaboration with the Marketing Team] For the purpose of disseminating the progress of the R&D Center and thereby enhancing Shimadzu’s technology brand, collaborate with SSI’s marketing groups to organize and present at promotional events like webinars, scientific conferences, and seminars. (monthly)
6. [Connective Role] Establish connections with key opinion leaders (KOLs), customers, collaborators, authorities, etc. to initiate mission-critical conversations with the R&D Team. Connect the customers to SSI’s sales/marketing team upon customer request for quotations or sales pitches. (daily)

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL SET REQUIREMENTS:

LEARNING (training may be provided)

• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn about, Japanese culture.
• Interpersonal skills and understanding for a diverse work environment, including overcoming language barriers.
• Knowledge of Shimadzu’s product portfolio and features.

ESTABLISHED (to further develop through working in this position)

• Presentation and public speaking skills using correct scientific terminology.
• User research skills.
• Knowledge of market research and analysis frameworks.
• Ability to identify and understand key technologies and scientific insights.
• Skills to write comprehensive and well-structured reports.
• Knowledge of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry used in pharmaceutical R&D.

PROFICIENT

• Knowledge of the practicalities and technicalities of drug development processes, gained through at least five years of work experience in a pharmaceutical company or equivalent.
• Extensive knowledge of the structure, statistics, and trends in the pharmaceutical market.
• Skills to maintain and leverage a network within the pharmaceutical and academic community.

PROBLEM SOLVING REQUIREMENTS:

The individual in this position is expected to find and gather information and data to answer market-related, customer-centric, and strategy-oriented questions that may arise from their manager. The key problem-solving requirement of this position lies in the ability to accurately estimate and deduce vital information that may not be available in the public domain, or to acquire insights from non-public sources. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to actively communicate with their manager about the ideas for Shimadzu’s future products that could offer novel solutions to customer issues and demands.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

As an indicator of the aforementioned competencies, the incumbent must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, more preferably a master’s degree or equivalent, in chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical science, or a closely related field. A Ph.D. degree is highly valued and preferred. The incumbent must have a minimum of five years of experience working as a scientist conducting experimental procedures for new drug development in a pharmaceutical company, CRO, CDMO, or equivalent.

At Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, we believe in providing structured career paths that recognize and reward talent. If your expertise surpasses the level specified in the listed position, we offer the flexibility to upgrade positions to better suit your qualifications accompanied by a salary adjustment

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

None

SAFETY/PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Position is required to maintain proper housekeeping and safety standards in particular to lab safety protocol.  Proper use of personal protective equipment and safety devices as required by the Corporate Safety Document policies and procedures and/or customer dictated policy.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position is office-based and requires regular and predictable attendance. The role will involve both independent project work and collaboration as part of a team. The incumbent may work at different locations throughout the day and may frequently travel to regional locations/customers for customer interviews, attend academic conference, exhibition, etc. Periodically, extra hours may be required to fulfill the duties of this position, for example, attending international teleconferences with stakeholders in Japan. The role involves direct contact with customers and requires prompt and professional handling of all related matters.